Our Bookshelf | Book of Centuries

Charlotte Mason suggested that children use a Book of Centuries, which is a timeline in a notebook. A timeline is a wonderful way to see history and its connections across all subjects. You can use our free or printed version with all three programs of study. Here's how!

Book of Centuries

First, you will need a Book of Centuries for each of your children in grades 1 to 12. You do not need one each year, as your child will use this as an ongoing record through the school years. If your children are very young, consider using one family timeline.

Ours features:

• Timeline (a place to record historical events with each page representing 100 years)
• Sketches & Notes (a place for recording century artifacts from museums or reference books)
• Map Work (a place for drawing your own world maps)
• Timeline Suggestions (a doable list of historical events to include)

Step 1: Read & Record

​When you read a lesson from a living book, you will encounter important people, places, and events from history. Ask students to write this down in their timeline. They will soon start making historical connections across all three programs of study:

• Program 1: Bible, History, Geography
• Program 2: Art, Music, Literature
• Program 3: Science (Math & Language Arts - sometimes)

For example, in the Ancient Age, you will see connections between Moses (from Bible Stories) and Pharoah (from History Stories) and Tomb Paintings (from Art Study). 

Step 2: Draw Maps

Next, you will see connections with geography. When you encounter stories about Moses and the Israelites exiting Egypt, ask your children to complete mapwork on Egypt and their trip through the wilderness. Students will begin to piece together our world and where these events took place. Map Study is not dry when it comes from real history stories.

Step 3: Add Sketches & Notes

Finally, your child might want to learn more about a certain event. Perhaps, he or she loves learning about the Pyramids in Egypt. You can let them dig-in and read more, then record their own personal discoveries in the sketches & notes section. 

Some resources for further study:

• The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia (Grades 4-10)
• The Usborne Encyclopedia of World History (Grades 3-9)
• Library books that are age-appropriate
• Museum Trips

In addition to each child's Book of Centuries, you may wish to have a copy of your own.  As a parent, you will enjoy seeing history comes to life through the wonderful living books.